Equities mixed as earnings season kicks off - 12.4.2024

The Dollar strengthening is intact today. The live dollar index data show the ICE US Dollar index, a measure of the dollar’s strength against a basket of six rival currencies, ended 0.1% higher on Thursday while Department of Labor data showed the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment insurance rose less than expected last week.

GBP/USD reversed its retreating on Thursday while EUR/USD slowed its sliding. Both euro and Pound are lower against the dollar currently. USD/JPY slowed its advancing yesterday while AUD/USD reversed its retreating with the yen flat against the Greenback currently and the Australian dollar lower.

US stock index futures are mixed currently with the yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes down at 4.571%. The three main stock benchmarks ended mixed on Thursday with daily returns in the range of -0.01% to 1.68% on Fed officials comments that there was no urgency to ease.

European indexes futures are up today after stock indexes closed lower on Thursday with bank shares leading losses as the European Central Bank held interest rates steady for the fifth straight meeting. Asian stock indexes futures are mixed today with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng leading losses dragged by real estate developer shares.

Brent is rebounding currently. Prices retreated on Thursday. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures lost 1.4% but is higher currently. Brent futures lost 0.8% to $89.74 a barrel on Thursday.